CNHRA PERSON RECORD · CNHRA-P-041455
Wang Yu
Born
Unknown
Occupation
Human rights lawyer
Role
Human Rights Defender
Record ID
CNHRA-P-041455
Biography
Wang Yu is a lawyer who initially handled commercial matters and began human rights work in 2011. Her clients included feminist activists, Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti.[3]
In 2013 she traveled to Hainan to assist the families of six schoolgirls allegedly sexually assaulted by their headmaster. In 2014 she represented Cao Shunli. Her firm, Beijing Fengrui, handled several prominent human rights cases.[3][4]
Wang’s legal work drew recognition from international legal organizations. In 2016, the American Bar Association selected her for its inaugural International Human Rights Award, recognizing work on civil rights, judicial independence and defense rights. Front Line Defenders preserves the ABA president’s award statement.[3]
Early on July 9, 2015, she lost contact after messaging friends that power and internet at her home had been cut and people were trying to enter. Her husband Bao Longjun was also detained that day. The family received notice of formal arrest in January 2016. A recording in August said she had been released on bail; a lawyers’ organization subsequently still lacked direct contact with the couple.[4][2]
Beijing’s justice bureau cancelled Wang’s legal practice certificate on November 26, 2020. The Secretary-General’s 2024 report also recounts questioning after a March 2024 visit to Chen Jianfang and difficulties obtaining a passport. China replied that July that she was not subject to judicial coercive measures.[5]
Case Summary
Wang lost contact early on July 9, 2015, after messages about an attempted entry into her home and was placed under residential surveillance at a designated location. Front Line Defenders records that her family received notice of formal arrest on January 8, 2016, for subversion of state power.[4][1]
A recording circulated on state media websites on August 1, 2016, in which she said she had been released on bail and criticized other lawyers and overseas activists. Front Line Defenders questioned the recording and bail conditions; an August 11 lawyers’ organization update still reported no direct contact by chosen lawyers or friends.[4][2]
Timeline
2011
Begins human rights casework
Begins taking human rights cases after commercial legal practice.
Front Line Defenders describes an earlier commercial practice followed by representation of feminist activists, Falun Gong practitioners and Ilham Tohti. She assisted families of schoolgirls in Hainan in 2013 and represented Cao Shunli in 2014. These cases show the shift in her practice; her public legal work did not begin with detention in 2015.[3]
2013
Assists Hainan schoolgirls’ families
Travels to Hainan to assist families of six schoolgirls allegedly sexually assaulted by their headmaster.[3]
2015-07-09
Loses contact in early morning
Loses contact after messages about power and internet cuts and people attempting entry; Bao Longjun is detained the same day.
Before contact was lost, she messaged friends about cuts to electricity and internet and people attempting to enter her home; Bao Longjun was taken away that day. Lawyers and assistants elsewhere were subsequently summoned or detained in the operation known as 709. Her loss of contact, later RSDL and the formal-arrest notice received in 2016 are distinct stages.[1][2][4]
2016
Selected for inaugural ABA International Human Rights Award
Award statement reproduced on her Front Line Defenders profile.[3]
2016-01-08
Family receives formal arrest notice
Front Line Defenders records family receipt of formal-arrest notice for subversion, following residential surveillance at a designated location.[4]
2016-08-01
Recording circulates bail announcement
State media websites circulate a recording in which Wang says she is on bail; Front Line Defenders questions the recording and bail conditions.
In the recording she said she had been granted bail and criticized other lawyers and overseas figures. An August 11 update from Lawyers for Lawyers still reported that retained lawyers, friends and relatives could not directly contact the couple. A recording is not the same as an interview under freely chosen conditions and does not establish unrestricted daily life or travel.[2][4]
2016-08-11
Lawyers report continuing lack of direct contact
A lawyers’ organization update reports no direct contact by chosen lawyers or friends with Wang and Bao.[2]
2020-11-26
Legal practice certificate cancelled
The Secretary-General’s 2024 report records cancellation of Wang’s practice certificate on November 26, 2020 and reports questioning after a March 2024 visit to Chen Jianfang and difficulties obtaining a passport. China replied in July that she was not subject to judicial coercive measures.[5]
2024-03
Reported questioning and passport obstacles
The Secretary-General’s 2024 report recounts questioning after a visit to Chen Jianfang and passport obstacles; China replied that July that no judicial coercive measures applied.[5]
Related Events
Documents
Sources
- [1]
CNHRA-S-149175Amnesty International
Evidence location: Wang Yu section: loss of contact early on July 9, 2015; retain the source’s qualification on verification.
- [2]
CNHRA-S-173739Lawyers for Lawyers
Evidence location: 11 August 2016 update: reported bail on 1 August, recorded statement and continuing inability to contact the couple.
- [3]
CNHRA-S-679396Front Line Defenders
Evidence location: ABA International Human Rights Award (2016) and Paulette Brown’s award statement.
- [4]
CNHRA-S-100445Front Line Defenders
Evidence location: Updates of January 13 and August 2, 2016: January 8 formal arrest notice and August 1 recording.
- [5]
CNHRA-S-271786United Nations
Evidence location: Annex II, paragraphs 60–63 and 69–70, printed pages 46–49; reported restrictions and government replies.